COMING BACK: It’s a full-circle moment: from students to mentors at the school where they first met.
Luke and Lucie Meier are returning to the Florence-based fashion and design school Polimoda, 25 years after crossing paths in 2001, to mentor the fourth and last-year students of the undergraduate in fashion design program.
In 2001, Luke Meier was part of FIT’s fashion design exchange program at Polimoda’s Florence campus, while Lucie Meier was studying fashion marketing. They went on to have solo careers, he in luxury menswear and streetwear, co-founding the OAMC brand in 2013; she at Dior, Balenciaga, and Louis Vuitton, before reuniting as co-creative directors at Jil Sander from 2017 to 2025.
“Once again being in Florence, at Polimoda, holds a special meaning for us. Today’s world is dynamic, trying, and changing; creativity is fundamental in helping all of us move forward,” stated Luke Meier. “We hope to inspire and provide guidance to the creative talents we will have the privilege of working with.”
This week, the Meiers kicked off their mentorship with 59 students from 30 countries, including China, Dominican Republic, Israel, Poland, Taiwan guiding them through the creative process for their graduate collections.
They’re joined by Polimoda’s director Massimiliano Giornetti, An Vandevorst, head of fashion design department, and the faculty, a team of industry professionals helping the students shape their final projects.
Luke and Lucie Meier at Polimoda
The program wraps up in June with a showcase at Polimoda’s graduate show 2026, where select collections will debut.Â
The Meiers’ are joining Polimoda during the year that marks its 40th anniversary and with the recent appointment as president of Niccolò Ricci, chief executive officer of the Italian sartorial brand Stefano Ricci. Polimoda also renewed the school’s board, which includes, among others, Pitti Immagine CEO Raffaello Napoleone, former Ferragamo CEO Micaela le Divelec Lemmi, and Laudomia Pucci.
